Ask most professionals in the HVAC industry what their biggest concern is and almost all will say it is the lack of skilled workers entering the field. This labor shortage has been on everyone’s radar for a long time, but solutions have remained somewhat elusive. Joe Nichter, president, Comfort Systems USA, Southwest, Chandler, Ariz., has addressed the issue head-on by changing the way his company designs and builds mechanical systems.
“We were looking for a way to improve productivity in order to overcome the skilled trade shortage, so we turned to prefabrication and modular solutions, which helped alleviate the problem,” said Nichter. “We are now building complete modular restrooms, head walls, and racking systems for all the mechanical trades in our shop. This process has reduced the number of people needed on-site and improved the overall construction schedule. In addition, we have found that this new approach equates to quality, productivity, and safety in the work environment for our employees.”